MADISON, NJ – With summer in full swing and the New Jersey governor’s race shifting into high gear, a new Fairleigh Dickinson University poll shows Democrat Mikie Sherrill holding an eight-point lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli, 45 percent to 37 percent among likely voters, with 16 percent still undecided.

The survey reveals a split battlefield: Sherrill maintains stronger loyalty among Democrats than Ciattarelli does with Republicans, and the GOP nominee’s hopes may hinge on pulling in independents. The poll also tested how voter preference shifts depending on whether the race is framed around local or national issues.

When respondents were asked about New Jersey-specific topics such as energy, flooding, and NJ Transit before reconsidering their vote choice, Ciattarelli’s support a

See Full Page